imported>Sammi Brie: Adding short description: "Road policing unit in Greater London"

2025-06-27T20:20:00Z

Adding short description: "Road policing unit in Greater London"

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{{Short description|Road policing unit in Greater London}}
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The '''Traffic Operational Command Unit''' (OCU), formally known as CO15, was the [[Road Policing Unit]] for the [[Metropolitan Police Service]] in [[Greater London]], England.

On 1 December 2014, Traffic OCU was merged with the [[Safer Transport Command]] (STC), to create the new [[Roads and Transport Policing Command]] (RTPC) under the heading of MO8 (Met Operations: Section 8).

==Role, responsibilities and aims==

Traffic OCU's patrol officers are highly trained advanced (pursuit) drivers, motorcyclists and vehicle examiners. All receive additional training in accident investigation with many being trained to advanced levels in forensic collision reconstruction, vehicle examination, tachograph analysis and hazardous materials enforcement. They have responsibility for the enforcement of road safety legislation, response to major incidents and incidents on [[motorway]]s and the strategic road network, the complete investigation of fatal collisions, and the initial investigation of life changing Road Traffic Collisions within the [[Metropolitan Police District|MPD]].<ref name="TrafficAims">{{cite web|url=http://www.met.police.uk/traffic/aims.htm|title=CO15 Traffic|publisher=Metropolitan Police Service|access-date=29 October 2010|archive-date=21 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121085415/http://www.met.police.uk/traffic/aims.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Traffic OCU Sergeants (known colloquially as "Garage Sergeants") are also responsible for the investigation of all collisions involving police vehicles.

Traffic OCU's stated aims are to:
* Deny criminals use of the roads by enforcing the law
* Reduce road casualties
* Tackle the threat of terrorism
* Reduce anti-social use of the roads
* Enhance public confidence and reassurance by patrolling the roads
* Attend and investigate all fatal collisions

In addition to general police duties and patrol, Traffic OCU officers focus particularly on offences related to antisocial and criminal use of vehicles, driving under the influence of drink or drugs, excessive speed, dangerous and careless driving, defective vehicles, commercial vehicles and the transportation of hazardous materials, and disqualified, unlicensed or uninsured drivers.

Within Traffic OCU, the Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU), staffed by detectives and expert collision investigators, is responsible for the investigation of all fatal collisions within the [[Metropolitan Police District]]. Whilst work continues{{when|date=October 2022}} to reduce the death toll, there are still{{when|date=October 2022}} in the region of 130 road traffic collision fatalities on London's roads each year - more than the number of murders.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/metro/19987.aspx|title = Media|website=Transport for London}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.met.police.uk/crimefigures/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401232354/http://www.met.police.uk/crimefigures/|archivedate=2017-04-01|title=Crime Figures|website=Metropolitan Police Service}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=October 2022}}

==Locations==

Traffic OCU has four operational bases known as "Traffic Garages".

===East Garage (TDJ)===
The East Garage is located in Chadwell Heath. The [[Metropolitan Police Service]] uses the code of TDJ to identify the location. The premises is shared with the [[Territorial Support Group]] and Dog Support Unit. Officers have the geographic responsibility for the boroughs of the [[London Borough of Tower Hamlets|Tower Hamlets]], [[London Borough of Newham|Newham]], [[London Borough of Barking and Dagenham|Barking and Dagenham]], [[London Borough of Hackney|Hackney]], [[London Borough of Havering|Havering]], [[London Borough of Redbridge|Redbridge]] and [[London Borough of Waltham Forest|Waltham Forest]].

===South Garage (TDP)===
The South Garage is located in [[Catford]]. The [[Metropolitan Police Service]] uses the code of TDP to identify the location. The premises is shared with the [[Territorial Support Group]] and the [[Metropolitan Police Dog Support Unit|Dog Section]]. Officers have the geographic responsibility for the boroughs of the [[London Borough of Bexley|Bexley]], [[Royal Borough of Greenwich|Greenwich]], [[London Borough of Lewisham|Lewisham]], [[London Borough of Southwark|Southwark]], London Borough of Lambeth, [[London Borough of Bromley|Bromley]] and [[London Borough of Croydon|Croydon]].

===West Garage (TDV)===
The West area has one garage located on an industrial estate in [[London Borough of Merton|Merton]] which is shared with the [[Metropolitan Police Dog Support Unit|Dog Section]]. [[Metropolitan Police Service]] uses the code of TDV (for [[London Borough of Merton|Merton]]). The geographic responsibilities of the garage is the London Boroughs of [[London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham|Hammersmith and Fulham]], [[London Borough of Wandsworth|Wandsworth]], [[London Borough of Hounslow|Hounslow]], [[London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames|Richmond Upon Thames]], [[Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames|Kingston upon Thames]], [[London Borough of Merton|Merton]], [[London Borough of Sutton|Sutton]] and [[City of Westminster|Westminster]].

===North Garage (TDQ)===
The North Garage is located on an industrial estate in [[Alperton]] and the [[Metropolitan Police Service]] uses the code TDQ to identify the location. The premises is a shared base. The geographic responsibilities of the officers from this garage are the London Boroughs of [[London Borough of Barnet|Barnet]], [[London Borough of Brent|Brent]], [[London Borough of Camden|Camden]], [[London Borough of Ealing|Ealing]], [[London Borough of Enfield|Enfield]], [[London Borough of Haringey|Haringey]], [[London Borough of Harrow|Harrow]], [[London Borough of Hillingdon|Hillingdon]] and [[London Borough of Islington|Islington]].

===Former garages===
Northolt (TDX), Barnes (TDB), Bermondsey (TDM), Bow (TDH), Croydon (TDZ), Euston (Firstly TDE, then TDC), Finchley (TDS), Eltham (TDR), Leyton-Rigg Approach (TDJ), Chadwell Heath (TDK), St Ann's Road (TDY), Hampton (TDT)

==Staffing==
Traffic Operational Command Unit had 622 Police Officers of which 523 are based at the four traffic bases across London with the remainder at Headquarters and other smaller specialist units and over 130 civilian Police Support Staff employed within the department along with a small number of [[Special Constables]]. The Police Officers and Special Constables from the command could be easily recognized by their [[Collar number|shoulder numbers]] beginning with the letter 'T', with qualified traffic officers bearing white covers worn over their uniform caps.

* 139 were based at the North East Traffic Base (Chadwell Heath)
* 125 were based at the South East London Traffic Base (Catford)
* 117 were based at the North West London Traffic Base (Alperton)
* 142 were based at the South West London Traffic Base (Merton)

==Equipment and vehicles==
Traffic OCU officers patrol both in cars and on motorcycles.

Cars used are the [[BMW 5 Series]] 530d X-Drive tourer, [[Volvo V90]], [[BMW X3]] 4x4 and [[Skoda Superb]] estates. The command has previously used [[BMW X5]] 4x4, [[Mitsubishi Shogun]] 4x4 and [[Ford Mondeo]] Estate. Each vehicle is fitted with a mobile data terminal with access to the [[Police National Computer]], [[Automatic Number Plate Recognition]] and video systems.

The current solo motorcycle used is the [[R1200RT#Special models|BMW 1200RT-P]] although some older 1150cc and 650cc models remain. The command also utilises some [https://www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk/en/models/adventure/f750gs.html BMW 750GS]. Although motorcycles carry less equipment than cars, they are far more agile through traffic congestion and are essential for escorting convoys, processions and demonstrations.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://content.met.police.uk/Site/traffic Official website]
*[http://content.met.police.uk/Site/roadsandtransport Roads & Transport Policing Command official website]

{{Metropolitan Police}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Defunct Metropolitan Police units]]

Traffic Operational Command Unit - Revision history

imported>Sammi Brie: Adding short description: "Road policing unit in Greater London"